Army coup in Central African Republic fails

REBEL soldiers attacked the home of President Ange Felix Patasse of the Central African Republic yesterday in a failed coup attempt that left at least a dozen dead.

President Patasse: unharmed by the attack

Heavy exchanges of gunfire were heard before dawn around the president's residence in the capital, Bangui. A diplomatic source said four members of the presidential guard and three attackers were killed. Mortar shell blasts and machinegun fire could be heard in what appeared to be a well-planned operation.

By mid-morning the government issued a statement saying the coup had been put down, although later reports said some southern parts of the city, including the Bruxelles and Petevo districts, were still in the hands of dissident soldiers. The statement also claimed that Mr Patasse was unharmed, but this was not independently confirmed and there was no sign of him in public.

The coup was similar to an earlier attempt to take control of the land-locked former French colony. In 1996 soldiers loyal to tribes from the south rose against Mr Patasse, who comes from the north. France sent troops to shore up the Patasse regime.

Despite large deposits of diamonds and other minerals, the country remains one of Africa's poorest.